"Valhal—la!"
[You crazy descendant, shut up a bit!]
But Ancestor, warrior's blood is boiling right now.
Block, stab, slice.
Ktun ravaged the battlefield like a wolf dropped among a flock of sheep.
He wasn't performing dramatic feats like heroes in legends, but on a small-scale battlefield like this, that alone was enough to change the tide.
The one performing next to Ktun was Golgol.
Golgol!
Who belittled a skeleton calling it a tin can?
'My Golgol is a growth-type skeleton.'
Just as Golgol's training made Ktun grow, Ktun's experience also made Golgol grow.
At first, he seemed just slightly better than the conscripts, but he achieved explosive growth through the practical combat experience accumulated in a short time.
A virtuous cycle of synergy where Ktun grows Golgol and Golgol grows Ktun!
At this point, Ark had no choice but to admit it too.
[Well, you have... some talent.]
Ktun's talent in swordsmanship.
Early on, Ark judged Ktun's talent was thanks to Golgol's proficiency, but when they actually entered combat, Ktun's talent was quite useful.
It wasn't bad even by the standards of someone who once hunted dragons with numerous heroes.
Is that why?
'Ugh, this guy should have received the blessing of Greatsword and Divine Power.'
It was regrettable.
Why was his bloodline born with the blessing of death?
However, since he couldn't take back the talent already awakened, Ark decided to focus on the present.
[You rascal, calm down and take a deep breath. Slowly, yes. Blocking and stabbing blindly isn't everything. You have to think about what comes after.]
Ark stood by Ktun's side and gave him teachings.
That he shouldn't just swing his sword intoxicated by power.
[In advancing and retreating... hm?]
Then, in an instant, Ark noticed something unusual.
A shadow rushing in rapidly.
[Descendant!]
"Valhal—! Urk?!"
Ktun quickly righted his shield.
Too late!
Goosebumps rose and cold sweat trickled down his back.
Am I dying? Alarm bells rang in his head.
Looking at the rushing blade, his thoughts accelerated. As if time was flowing slowly, the sharp sword filled his vision.
It was then.
Golgooool!
It was Golgol.
Golgol, noticing his master's danger, threw his body without hesitation.
The sword flying right in front of his eyes; his frail body would surely not withstand that blow.
But there was no hesitation.
Why? Because his life was his master's.
'Golgol, Golgol!'
An inner death throe rang out.
CRUNCH!
Golgol's frail body shattered into pieces and scattered out of the robe.
Amidst his skull detaching from his body and flying up, Golgol looked for his master in his dizzyingly spinning vision.
'Golgol!'
Ah, thank goodness.
Master is not dead.
"Golgol—!"
In that desperate cry, Golgol was happier than ever.
Because he protected his master.
***
At the sudden situation, I caught my breath for a moment.
What happened?
...Right, there was an attack.
A sword thrust unexpectedly.
And Golgol blocking its path.
As a result, Golgol was shattered and collapsed, and I saved my life.
So Golgol threw his body for me.
"Oh my, was it a Necromancer?"
"You..."
The guy laughs calmly despite killing Golgol.
"Who are you?"
[It's him, the guy who was standing next to Viscount Hadion.]
I'm not asking because I don't know that.
What I want to hear is the guy's name.
The name that killed Golgol.
"Zeke. The person who will escort the Young Master. But I am curious. I heard the Palaon bloodline is Greatsword and Divine Power, but Necromancy. Are you really of the Palaon bloodline, Young Master?"
Zeke. Right, that's the name.
I didn't answer his question.
Anyway, what he wants is my person.
And that's the same for me.
'Daring to kill Golgol?'
Unforgivable.
"Hmm, it's better not to make meaningless struggles. If you surrender quietly, I will treat you accordingly."
"Fuck you."
I immediately kicked off the ground.
[You rascal! Now is the time to retreat!]
The Ancestor shouted something, but it didn't really resonate.
Time to retreat?
Who decides that?
"A warrior— does not ignore the death of a comrade—!"
"Hm, that's a pity. Then excuse me."
Saying that, the guy strode forward.
A rushing sword!
But it was expected.
CLANG—!
"Huh? What is that shield?"
"Your father!"
With a thunderous shout, I ran forward with my shield raised.
Although I went crazy at Golgol's death, that didn't mean I rushed in without any plan.
'If he is truly a strong man comparable to Sir Balt...'
It's too late to retreat now.
Then what to do?
'I have to fight.'
How?
Since I naturally wouldn't be a match in swordsmanship, what I trusted was this shield.
According to the Ancestor, it's a guy that blocks even dragon breath, so surely it can block the sword strikes of a guy worse than a dragon's claw!
Indeed, should I say it was as I expected?
"Cut at once... Urk!"
CLANG! GRIND—!
The guy who swung his sword confidently groaned in pain and stepped back.
He lost his composure at the stronger-than-expected repulsion.
[Eek, if it comes to this, it can't be helped! Yes, keep pushing! Don't give him distance! Keep digging in!]
Momentum on my side, I rushed at him like a tank.
Of course, it wasn't without worry.
No matter how big the shield is, a skilled swordsman would be able to thrust his sword over the shield when the distance closes.
But who is this body?
'No—ble!'
It's dirty, but in medieval warfare, it's manners not to kill nobles.
Even the blow that killed Golgol at first was only threatening; he probably didn't intend to kill me.
But
Golgol—!
"You are! Golgol's! Enemy—!"
"Urk—!"
[Right, well done! Yes, push him like that!]
I became a bumper car and pushed him.
Forward, continuously!
THWACK, THUD!
It was a simple, ignorant charge throwing away all the swordsmanship or combat skills I learned so far to the dogs, but the effect was tremendous!
But is it that he's skilled enough to rival Sir Balt?
Even while being pushed back helplessly, the guy rarely lost his balance.
No, from a certain moment.
"How dare you!"
He even stood like a solid wall and pushed me back!
The time I held the advantage was less than a minute.
Regaining his balance, the guy soon pushed me back while supporting the shield with his shoulder, and at this point, it was hard for me to maintain momentum too.
A contest of strength began like that!
[You put your shoulder to it too! Right foot forward! Lower your stance! Don't bend your upper body! Lower your lower body! Lower your center of gravity!]
"Hup!"
I listened attentively to the Ancestor's advice and immediately put it into action.
But the guy is a knight.
Although I possess physical abilities different from ordinary people thanks to my dazzling bloodline talent, the guy is a genuine knight who focused solely on physical training!
'I'm being pushed...!'
When the guy set his stance with determination, it was me who was being pushed back.
In the contest of strength where superiority reversed in an instant, the time given to me wasn't much. I had to make a move.
But how?
If I pull my sword to the side and stab him, my balance will collapse, and if my balance collapses, everything is over.
It would be nice if someone helped at a time like this...
It was then.
"Haaap—!"
"Urk...!"
With tremendous recoil, my body fell over backward.
[Oh no! Roll with it! Just roll!]
Following the Ancestor's advice, I didn't resist and fell over as I was.
And with the rotational force, I rolled backward once and got up!
As soon as I got up, I raised my shield.
No sooner had I done that than a fierce sword strike rushed in.
BOOM!
Indeed, the mystery of fantasy!
It was a defensive power that ignored things like the action-reaction of physical laws.
The sound is this loud, but I don't feel any impact!
'What is the principle?'
Curiosity welled up, but now wasn't the time to worry about such things.
"This is something the Young Master brought upon himself!"
The guy, angry to the top of his head, pressed in.
Anaerobic sword strikes!
I busily moved my shield while curling my body to block the dizzyingly entangled sword strikes.
Metallic sounds rang out and sparks flashed.
[Don't block the strikes one by one! Block the path with the surface!]
"Valhalla...!"
Like a loyal servant, I moved the shield according to the Ancestor's advice.
[Left! Right is a fake! Right! This time right! Left again! Good, block twice! Get up! His breath must be cut off!]
It was a sword strike hard to even follow with eyes, but I moved mindlessly according to the Ancestor's instructions.
Doing so, a chill ran down my spine on the one hand.
'Is this... Sir Balt's counter?!'
Legendary(?) shield.
Ancestor's advice.
If even one of the two were missing, I would have been lying on the floor long ago.
A stab somewhere... No, judging by his skill, the guy didn't even need a stab to subdue me.
If he swung his sword, I would have run around in confusion and fallen from exhaustion.
But
"Valhal—la!"
Originally, a knight relies on gear!
I shouted at the top of my lungs as I took a stance and got up.
Although it is a disadvantageous situation, the spirit does not die.
As long as Golgol's soul is with me!
[From now on is the real deal! Be careful! He adapted too!]
Yes sir!
Indeed, as the Ancestor said, the guy's offensive, which had been consistently pounding the shield, changed.
What should I say?
Should I say it became more precise and more powerful?
"Urk!"
Persisting in defense wasn't different from before, but my balance crumbled little by little at the guy's dizzying sword strikes.
Thanks to the fraudulent shield, I was somehow holding on, but there were sword strikes coming in avoiding the shield.
SLASH, SLASH!
Thighs, shoulders; small cuts grazed past parts inevitably exposed as I changed my stance.
It hurts!
I'm not going to die like this, right?!
My heart wavered at the first bloodshed I experienced in my life, but the reliable ancestral god(?) ancestor shouted.
[Don't be scared! He doesn't intend to kill you either! If you endure, you win!]
Right, if I don't die, I don't die!
And so what if I die again!
Golgol died for me!
But it can't go on like this.
'I have to find a way...'
Sir Balt?!
Glancing sideways, Sir Balt was still in close combat with the knights.
Father?!
I don't know.
Is he running to save me? He shouldn't do that.
Anyway, a situation where help cannot be expected.
"I will end this—!"
Light soared from the guy's sword.
[It's Aura! Aura! The shield won't be pierced, but be careful! There will be recoil! Brace for impact!]
"...!"
I braced for impact while maintaining my stance.
Soon.
BOOM! BANG!
Does a castle gate hit by a battering ram feel like this?
My brain shook.
I tried to endure somehow, but my body's balance collapsed and my vision swayed up and down.
At this rate, I'm bound to be done for!
But that cannot happen.
I haven't even avenged Golgol yet!
"Valhal—la! Golgol, give me strength!"
[You crazy bastard! Don't talk nonsense and breathe! Control your breathing!]
The Ancestor seemed to say something, but I couldn't hear due to extreme excitement.
More than that, even if I go, one stab is okay, right?!
Just one hit!
"Just take one hit—! I'll just prick the heart slightly and pull it out!"
The brilliant sword rushing at me!
I lowered my shield and rushed at the guy.
[This crazy bastard?!]
"What the...!"
At my attack disregarding my life, the Ancestor was appalled and Golgol's enemy was freaked out.
He surely didn't expect me to come out this boldly.
While the guy's noticeably flustered sword strike hesitated.
"Valhallaaaaaa—!"
The guy's sword, rushing for my neck, changed its path and dug into my shoulder.
It hurts, but Golgol must have hurt more.
I advanced as I was.
The guy's sword didn't stop even after digging into my shoulder.
You said you didn't intend to kill me!
It was a chilling sword strike.
But there was no fear of death.
It was then.
RATTLE—!
'This is...!'
Golgol's bone fragments rolling on the ground flew to me, and soon wrapped around my shoulder, blocking the guy's sword brilliant with Aura.
[Bone Armor!]
"What is this...!"
"Die, Golgol's enemy!"
The sword thrust with all my might rushed at the guy.
That's right.
Golgol is with me.
This is... the worst and most wicked strike created by Golgol and me!
STAB!
My sword pierced the guy right after that.